“At Porte de la Chappelle, they run in between cars, carrying infants, kids trailing behind them," said Oliver, the head of a tenant's group on Boulevard Ney in the 13th arrondissement, told Le Parisian newspaper.

“Even at night. It's a miracle there aren't more accidents, especially in areas with heavy traffic.”

Since the spring however, local police have organized operations to crack down on the begging.

The most recent, at Porte de Pantin in the 19th arrondissement, led to the arrest of five adults - only one of which was Syrian, the rest Romanian - after a child ran into the street and was hit by a car while local officials were patrolling the area.

“Romanians arrested at the gates of the capital all admit that they try to pass as Syrians for money reasons,” a police source told Le Parisien newspaper.